Worldwatch - the thinktank of record on all matters sustainable - says that cellphones and cheap computers are revolutionizing the developing world and helping bridge the global gap between rich and poor:

"In 1992, only one in 237 people worldwide used a mobile phone, and one in 778 used the Internet; by 2002, the numbers had soared to one in 5 and one in 10, respectively."

"Cheap computers with nonproprietary software, designed to be shared at public libraries, cyber cafes, and telecenters, could bring the Internet to even more people. Indian scientists have built a handheld “Simputer”—short for Simple, Inexpensive, Multilingual Computer— for poor, rural users that is expected to reach the market in 2003. While the computer itselfwill cost about $200, people will be able to rent time on one—for instance, to check commodity prices or consult doctors—and to store their own data on $1–2 cards."

(thanks Howard!)